If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.”~William Gladstone
Teas have a long history steeped in tradition and medicinal value that dates back to at least 4,000 years in China. Tea is a great pastime any time of day to take a break from the humdrum of life. It is also extremely beneficial to provide the body with nourishment and to treat many ailments. Let’s take a look at some of the teas and their benefits you can begin to enjoy.
Yerba Maté is one of my favorite coffee alternatives to help me get going in the morning. Maté comes from the naturally caffeinated leaves of the South American rainforest holly tree. It does not have the “crash” that coffee is known for. It also helps improve mental clarity, boost the immune system, helps loose weight, and keep your heart healthy. This nutrient and vitamin rich tea can be enjoyed hot or cold with honey and cream. Next time you want your morning buzz try a Yerba Maté.
Jiaogulan is known by the Chinese as the “immortality” herb due to its many health benefits. As an adaptogen it adapts and regulates our sympathetic nervous system which mean it can calm or excite depending on the person. It has been known to treat peptic ulcers, boost cardiovascular health, help the body resist stress, improve circulation and reduce blood sugar. Jiaogulan tea has also been used to help treat respiratory conditions, colds, and to relieve cough. You can see why it is often called the longevity tea. This delicious tea can be consumed every day. Get your Jiaogulan on today!
Ginger offers so many health benefits that the list is too long to even begin to post here. Nonetheless, some of these include help with weight loss, relieve tired muscles, help manage glucose levels, improve circulation, reduce arthritic inflammation, clears sinuses, improves respiration, even helps morning sickness and has even been known to increase sexual desire. You can slice a few pieces of ginger and add hot water with lemon and honey or even just add a little to your dinner for extra flavor. For more health benefits look here.
Mint is a delightful tea to aid digestion or freshen up your breathe after a heavy meal. It is well known to be useful for nausea, headaches, respiratory disorders and coughs mixed with a little honey and lemon. As a natural stimulant it can boost your mood and give your brain the perfect recharge it needs during the typical afternoon slump. Mint can also be a good addition to your skin care if you suffer from pimples or are simply trying to repel mosquitos and other pesky critters. It can help with weight loss since it helps the stomach break down digestive enzymes. The reason it helps freshen your breathe is because of its germicidal properties. Read here for more great info on the benefits of Mint tea.
Chai tea has a spicy pungent flavor due to its basic components of black tea, cinnamon, ginger, clove, cardamom and black pepper. This is not only a delicious warming drink for a cold winter day but offers other powerful health benefits. Some of these include, strong antioxidant that protects your cells and tissues from damage from free radicals; digestive support, especially when taken after meals to help digest fats and proteins due to the digestive enzymes the black pepper produces; powerful anti-inflammatory action in the body. This can be drank with milk or a milk alternative and some honey.
Chamomile has long been known for its benefits to soothe the stomach. This ancient tea that was commonly drank in Egypt has many other wellbeing benefits. It is great for skin health, as a hair lightener when used as a rinse for your hair, and can even help with that bothersome dandruff. When used as a compress it can reduce puffiness around the eyes or to help heal wounds. Add some apple slices or some fresh chamomile leaves to your tea as it is brewing to add some extra yummy flavor and add honey for sweetness.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. There are hundreds of teas and a myriad of health benefits that make drinking tea not just fun and delicious but extremely beneficial to your health. Have fun! And feel free to share with us your wonderful tea ideas.
